Some folks believe that Personal Stylists are just for people with lots of money and no time. And stylists can help those kinds of people for sure. But the truth is that anyone can benefit from the services of a stylist. And those services can actually save you money. With someone advising and guiding you to the right clothing choices and helping you build your wardrobe with quality pieces that work with everything you already have in your closet, you will avoid making mistakes on your shopping trips and thus save your hard-earned cash.
Why Consider a Personal Stylist
We all make mistakes in this arena. Impulse buying, especially at bargain prices, feels like a win, but unless the piece you buy is fantastic and really works for you and the rest of your wardrobe, the excitement is quickly gone. The thing about clothes shopping is you have to buy strategically and intentionally. Otherwise, you’ll end up with piles of items that don’t work. If you buy clothes randomly, one piece at a time, and not with your entire wardrobe in mind, you risk having an item not fitting in or matching with anything in your more extensive collection of clothes. And because of that, you’ll end up not wearing it and having wasted time and money buying it. Shopping in malls, boutiques, and even online can be time-consuming and can easily result in clothes that don’t fit, are of poor quality, and may require the dreaded returns process. A stylist will select pieces that will fit your body perfectly, as well as work with your existing wardrobe.
You don’t want a closet full of clothes that don’t align with your personal style. You want a cohesive look that you can build on. And a Personal Stylist can help you achieve that. She can help steer you toward buying an outfit rather than just one piece or purchasing items that don’t go with what is already in your closet. The stylist can also update your wardrobe every so often, so your clothes feel fresh and exciting, while also providing suggestions on how to mix and match the clothes you have. The stylist helps you invest not in trends or fads but in things that you will love and wear for years to come.
I primarily work with women who have full lives, whether they’re corporate executives, moms, leaders, or volunteers. Partnering with them over time, I create a wardrobe that works for their personal style and life. And what I offer my clients is what you’ll want to find when looking for your own Personal Stylist.
Communication Skills
A good Personal Stylist will be an exceptional communicator and offer advice on what colors look good on you and what colors look good together. You may love lavender and wear it a lot, but it might not be the best choice for your skin color. A stylist will also make recommendations on how to dress for special occasions and events, as well as what to pack for a weekend getaway or vacation. She will consider your body type, skin tone, current style, and taste when selecting items for your wardrobe. On occasion, she may help you organize your closet and assist you in letting go of pieces you don’t wear, no longer serve you, or never worked in the first place. And she will need to be an excellent communicator to do that without upsetting her client!
Skills For the Job
Educate yourself on the stylist and preview her work online or on her blog or social media and see what kind of references she has. Is her content helpful and delivered simply? Did you learn something from her you didn’t already know? If so, she might be the one. Read her reviews because they will offer clues about how it is to work with her.
My work with a new client is to get a complete understanding of her style preferences and body type and what features she likes to highlight, and those she would prefer to downplay. You, too, will want a stylist who gathers all of this information upfront before shopping with you or selecting items for your closet. A stylist must consider every aspect of her client’s style, life, and physical attributes when planning additions to her closet. Her goal is to help her clients create a cohesive wardrobe that makes getting dressed for any occasion easy.
I educate my clients on capsule dressing, the best layering techniques, how to dress as the seasons change, and how to accessorize. These services make what to wear painless, and easy and you’ll want to be sure your stylist understands all the different dressing techniques.
Compatibility
Styling is a very individual thing, and the relationship between you and your stylist should be that of a partnership. She should be someone you trust and get along with. The most important thing you’re looking for in a Personal Stylist is compatibility. As you interview and shop around, you’ll want to ask yourself, do I like her, or can I see myself having a long-term relationship with this person. Can I trust her? And, just as important, is she a good listener? It would help if you looked for someone who takes in and truly understands what you are saying, your likes and dislikes, and what you want. You don’t want someone who suggests $600 shoes when your budget stretches only to $150. The superior Personal Stylist will listen to your preferences and not try to put you in clothing that just doesn’t suit you.
Establishing a relationship with my clients is essential to our work together. This trusting relationship helps them find their own style so that everything in their closet is true to who they are, and each outfit gives her confidence in how she’s showing up each day. A good stylist will help her clients feel their best, discover their needs, spend their personal style budget wisely, bring together their look, be a good listener, and solve problems quickly.
Attention to Trends
While you don’t want to dress in an outfit held together with safety pins just because skin is now in, you still want to stay current with what’s happening in the fashion world, and a stylist should help with that. She will keep you on-trend in looks that feel fresh and of the moment but won’t bare your midriff.
Knowledge of Fit
Make sure your stylist is a fit expert. Fit is crucial to your clothes looking good on you. You can have the most beautiful jacket in the world, but if it hangs on you like a limp tea towel or is too small, that doesn’t matter. Your stylist should probably also have a relationship with a tailor who will assist in making sure you get that fabulous fit.
Fees
Because I represent several lines of designer ready-to-wear women’s clothing and work exclusively with these collections, I do not charge a fee for my expertise and guidance. However, you can expect to pay an hourly fee to work with most Personal Stylists. You can work with them regularly (i.e., on a seasonal basis) or just for specific events or occasions.
Virtual Styling
Look for a stylist who can offer you virtual styling. Styling over the internet has taken off since the COVID pandemic started, and let’s face it, online appointments give you and your stylist much more flexibility with scheduling. A stylist can run virtual appointments with you at any time that’s convenient. This way, you won’t have to wait for, as in my case with clients, in-home trunk shows.
Style Subscriptions
Boxed clothing subscriptions are an easy way to align yourself with a Personal Stylist. Several companies offer subscription-style boxes (i.e., StitchFix, Nordstrom’s Trunk Club), and these companies pair you with a stylist.
Because of the number of collections I represent, I offer what I call a Box of Luxe. This allows me to work with clients from anywhere in the States. I create a box of pre-styled looks from my collections. Clients try them on in the comfort of their homes and purchase only what they love. Returning what they don’t is easy. It’s all about convenience. And I’m happy to offer that to my clients.
If you’re interested in working with a Personal Stylist, there are four of us on the Lots of Luxe team. Let’s connect and see exactly what you’re looking for in a Stylist.